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LAWSUITS NEWS & LEGAL INFORMATION

Lawsuit Updates: The Latest on Lipitor & Crestor

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A mounting number of Lipitor diabetes lawsuits have been filed against Pfizer, the maker of the medication. Lipitor, also known generically as atorvastatin, is a member of the statin class of medications used to reduce blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, or “bad” cholesterol, a contributing factor in heart disease.

• In 2012, Pfizer updated the Lipitor labeling to include warnings of increased risk for diabetes; however, the lawsuits contend that this was insufficient.

• The Lipitor lawsuits allege Pfizer has failed to adequately warn consumers of the risk for developing diabetes associated with the statin.

Here we provide an update on Lipitor litigation

• In June, 2013, a motion to consolidate Lipitor lawsuits into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) was put forward. The motion filed by the plaintiffs involved centralizing three actions pending in the District of South Carolina, one action in the Southern District of Illinois and one action in the Eastern District of Virginia.

• In September 2013, a federal panel of judges subsequently denied the motion for a Lipitor diabetes MDL. In making their decision, the judges noted that there was a small number of Lipitor diabetes lawsuits filed, and that many were already pending in a single district.

• The judges noted in their order that there were factors in the lawsuits that favored consolidation of the claims, including that the lawsuits made similar allegations.

• However, the judges wrote, almost half of the lawsuits already filed are pending in the District of South Carolina. Furthermore, the lawsuits are already moving before one judge in a coordinated manner. Finally, Pfizer reportedly told the judges that it would work with the plaintiffs’ lawyers in non-South Carolina actions, to coordinate common discovery.

• According to the judges, the plaintiffs have suggested that many more Lipitor lawsuits are likely to be filed (the judges noted that they were aware of 23 more federal actions in addition to those they were considering); the judges were not willing to consolidate lawsuits based on the potential of future lawsuits.

• Based on those factors, the judges determined that a transfer and consolidation order regarding Lipitor was not necessary and denied the motion. The motion was issued in regards to MDL No. 2459, In Re: Lipitor (Atorvastatin Calcium) Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.

• An MDL is more practical for both the plaintiffs and the judicial system, as it allows for trying all cases on an individual basis. An MDL is a special federal legal procedure that speeds up the process of handling complex cases such as complex product liability lawsuits. An MDL can take place when civil actions involving one or more common questions of fact are pending in different districts. Additionally, MDLs reduce the likelihood of duplicative discovery and conflicting pretrial rulings from different judges.

Crestor litigation update

According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Crestor, known generically as rosuvastatin, is associated with a low incidence of rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle damage) and various forms of kidney failure.

• Crestor belongs to the statin class of medications and was approved in the US in August 2003.

• In 2005, Astra-Zeneca Pharmaceuticals, the maker of Crestor, changed the drug’s label to reflect the risk of serious muscle toxicity (myopathy/rhabdomyolysis). Although premarketing trials indicated a risk of muscle damage - a side effect seen in other statins - the updated label reflected data from studies indicating that Asian people could be at an increased risk of muscle damage. The new label recommended that Asian patients be started on the 5 mg dose.

• In October 2012, the FDA announced a change to Crestor’s warning label, alerting patients to the risk of immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM), an autoimmune myopathy that is associated with statin use. Symptoms of IMNM include proximal muscle weakness and increased serum creatine kinase, both of which can continue after treatment with Crestor has stopped. The FDA notes that this side effect is rare.

• In March 2012, the FDA announced a label change to statin drugs including Crestor. The label was changed to alert patients to the risk of side effects and possible drug interactions linked to statin use. The FDA noted there were reports of muscle injury when statins were used with fibrates (cholesterol-lowering drugs), niacin (in large doses), Ranexa (used to treat angina) or Colchicine (used to treat gout).

Here we provide a Crestor litigation update regarding Crestor side effects

• In March 2012, a group of patients who were taking Crestor and their families filed a lawsuit in California state court against AstraZeneca LP and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, as well the drug’s distributor, McKesson Corporation.

• Still pending, the lawsuit alleges that the defendants designed, manufactured, marketed and distributed Crestor despite knowing about the drug’s “dangerous and defective nature.” They say the dangers include the possibility of sudden cardiac death.

• Crestor personal injury lawsuits continue to be filed across the US.

• Currently there are no Crestor MDLs.


READ ABOUT CRESTOR/LIPITOR LAWSUITS

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READER COMMENTS

Posted by

on
I was prescribed Crestor between 2000 and 2005 in California. I've been pre-diabetic and diabetic since then and have difficulty keeping cholesterol and blood glucose levels down. Current physician has me on 80 mg Atorvastatin, Metformin and Levemir. Also Diagnosed cancer in 2016. This is very disturbing.

Posted by

on
I was prescribed Statins for high cholesterol. All of them gave me muscle aches and severe cramping.
Finally the Dr. prescribed Crestor to see if that would alleviate the symptoms.
Everything got worse. I had a pain in my shoulder that kept me up all night and caused issues at work.

I stopped taking it last week and all of the symptoms are just about gone. I struggled with this pain for almost a year for no reason at all.
No more Statins for me. I'll just take my chances.

Posted by

on
I was on Lipitor for years then developed leg pains so doctor finally took me off it when I insisted it was due to the drug. I was on pravastatin but still have muscle pains. I moved and got a new doctor, he put me on crestor. I complained again and again of leg and back pain he told me to stay on the crestor since that wasn't the cause.

I was to the point I could barely walk and then I got so bad I had to go to the ER. I was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis and was in ICU for almost a week while it was being flushed out of my system. This drug affects muscles which includes the heart.

I am now off all statins and will be going on a new drug which is an injection done every two week.

Posted by

on
google steven Sinatra - the cholesterol lie
or
"The heart of the matter" - cholesterol

watch the videos.

Posted by

on
I took Lipitor and got diabetes also but because I only took 10mg a day for about 7 years they claim it was not a suitable case. As no one in my family has ever had diabetes I guess I got it from a falling star...For the courts to only start considering those on 80mg is absolutely stupid...if it were a member of there family they would think differently A person can walk into a store and get burnt from hot coffee and collect millions but get a disease that last a life time and you are ignored

Posted by

on
I TOOK CRESTOR FOR 14 MONTHS AFTER WHICH I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH TYPE II DIABETES. I HAVE NO DIABETES IN MY FAMILY AND THIS HAS BEEN A DRAIN ON MY HEALTH. I HAVE BEEN PART OF THE CRESTOR LITIGATION NOW FOR ABOUT 8 YRS, PROBABLY DIE FROM COMPLICATIONS OF DIABETES BEFORE THEY EVER SETTLE THIS LAW SUIT. I AM SO ANGRY THAT A DRUG LIKE THIS COULD BE MARKETED THAT CAUSES MORE PROBLEMS THEN WHAT IT HELPS.

Posted by

on
Lipitor causing complete muscle damage with debilitaing consequenes.

Posted by

on
Doctor has recommended crestor, I'm worried about it. Been on 80 mlg of pravastatin, for years. Primary doctor said it was to much, he changed me to 49 mlg of lovastatin. Cardiologist decided to change me to Crestor. He originally recommended 40 mlg, but then changed it to 20, without any blood test or even seeing me yet. Is there any way around these statins? My cholesterol was at 160 last year with the pravastatin, I had lost 60 pounds and everything was great, but gained back 30, now its 242, something else must be happening. I'm afraid of this medication, not to mention, I can't afford it.

Posted by

on
I have been taking crestor for 6 years and 4 years ago I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. No one in my family has ever had diabetes. I have checked on both sides of the family and never has anyone had it. What can I do?

Posted by

on
I was taking Lipitor in the late nineties/early 2000's. I had a severe reaction with my joints swelling, muscle tenderness. I stopped taking Lipitor. I now have arthritis in my joints, espically my hands. I was in my late 40,s early 50's. I now am taking Crestor 5m a day. Naturally my arthritis is worsening with age, 69.

I am concerned this is due to Lipitor.

Posted by

on
I am currently taking lipitor and has been diagnosed with type two diabetes. I had been doing everything that my doctor has told me, but for some reason my blood sugar would not go down. So my doctor kept increasing my medication. I now take 2 1000mg of metformin twice a day and glyburide. I have problems with nerves in my legs and back. I thought maybe this was from my back surgery, but this was well over a year ago and I am taking muscle relaxers

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